Vickie Brownlee was never far from walking a long hard road during her lifetime. After many difficulties, she is fulfilling her dream of opening a day care center.

Brownlee, one of the pioneers of Lamar County’s first pre-K program in the old Milner school, has been with the Lamar County school system for 15 years, mostly as a paraprofessional with both Lamar elementary and middle schools. She says she always loved being with children.